Hjorth, Redman in front at Longs Drugs Challenge

Oct 10, 2008 - 11:54 AM DANVILLE, California (Ticker) - Maria Hjorth and Michele Redman sit atop the leaderboard with defending champion Suzann Pettersen lurking two shots back entering Friday's second round of the $1.2 million Longs Drugs Challenge.

Hjorth and Redman each recorded seven birdies and a bogey en route to opening rounds of 6-under-par 66 at Blackhawk Country Club.

In a field that features seven of the top 10 players on the LPGA money list, it was the 27th and 60th ranked players that carded the rounds of the day.

The 60th-ranked Redman tied for first with 16-of-18 greens in regulation and tied for third with 12-of-13 fairways in regulation.

In-Kyung Kim and Mikaela Parmlid find themselves one shot back at 5-under, while last year's champion sits within striking distance.

Pettersen is in search of her second straight title here. The 27-year-old held off Lorena Ochoa in a two-hole playoff for her third of five victories in 2007.

The Norwegian, looking for her first win this year, had five birdies but bogeyed No. 18 to card a round of 4-under on Thursday. She is joined by six other players two shots off the lead.

Paula Creamer's quest for back-to-back wins got off to a rocky start with a 2-over 74.

Last week's champion at the Samsung World Championship, Creamer had an up-and-down round that included an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole and double-bogeys on No. 8 and No. 14.

Ochoa, the leader on the money list, started her round on the back nine and birdied three of the first four holes but was unable to build on the early momentum.

She went without a birdie for the remainder of her round, recording a bogey on the par-3 seventh to card a 70.

Veterans Juli Inkster and Laura Davies each finished at 2-under to join Ochoa four shots back.

First prize is $180,000.